Disease Unit
Cancer
Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in the United States. There are about 100 different types of cancer and each one presents in its own special way. Early detection is the key with this disease as the various treatments work best if the cancer has not spread from its original location or the place where it started. There are also some life style issues (behaviors!) that can reduce your chance of developing cancer in your life time.
Great web site! WWW.CANCER.GOV
Please spend some time reading on this web site about cancer.
A better web site for understanding!! WWW.15-40.ORG
Cancer cells are formed during mitosis when a carcinogenic factor (chemical, uv-photon, oncogene, etc) changes the cell division outcome and a cancer cell is formed. These cells if not treated or removed will spread (metastasize) from their place of origin to a distant body organ. Drawings Showing How this Happens! Once the cancer has spread , it crowds out the normal cells and makes the patient sick and can cause death.
The Warning Signs of Cancer
(CLASSIC CAUTION)
Change in bowel or bladder habits.
A sore that does not heal.
Unusual bleeding or discharge.
Thickening or a lump in the breast, or elsewhere.
Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.
Obvious change in a wart or mole.
Nagging cough or hoarseness.
(The Updated CAUTIONS)
Change in Mole
Abnormal Discharge
Unilateral Pain
Tumor
Increasing Lymph Gland
Overwhelming Fatigue
Neurological Deficit
Subtle and Persistent changes
ABCDE for Melanoma
A - Asymmetry
B - Border
C - Color
D - Diameter
E - Evolving
Terms:
tumor- abnormal growth of cells.
benign- abnormal cells that do not spread, but can cause harm to nearby tissue.
malignant – cancer cells that have the ability to spread throughout the body
metastasis- the traveling of the cancer cell to remote body parts
carcinogen- substance that causes cancer
carcinogenic- the action of causing cancer
Treatments:
1- Surgery - If the cancer has not spread, it can be cut out!
2-Radiation - Ionizing radiation will kill the “weaker” cancer cells!
3-Chemotherapy - Chemicals (drugs) will poison/kill cancer cells before normal cells.
E-Immunotherapy - experimental use of the immune system against cancer cells.
E-Monoclonal antibody therapy - Creating antibodies to kill the cancer cells -
Cancer preventions on the internet:
www.cancer.gov and www.cdc.gov
Sometimes Cancer victims try untested treatments. This leads to quackery on the internet. Quackery is the promotion of false and unproven health schemes for a profit.
Quack source: BUYER BEWARE!
Cancer Preventions from Class: Link to Dear.
Videos We Watched:
The Dark Side of the Sun
Second Hand Smoke
The Question of Causation
Blood Detectives
Behaviors:
Don't Smoke
Use Sun Block
Eat your vegetables?!?